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Category: Shows

… taken by surprise by an inner enemy!
Enemic Interior? No clue. From Catalonia? Mhhh…

But sometimes it is good to listen to those in the know. And they suggested attendance. Plus the internet (damn internet, never forgets) was having some choice words too:
```
Barcelona’s Enemic Interior is a band that treads the finest of lines between raw rage and an introspective sense of melody, a balance which they manage to maintain in spite of their confrontational delivery.

Catalan lyrics, daring audacity, and incomparable songwriting come together to create bittersweet, desperate songs that at once seem both huge and intimate.

... their trademark sombre punk, both emotive and bleak, melodic and dark, at the place where punk, post-punk and Oi! meet.
```
Sounds like a reasonable promise for a Wednesday evening. So down to the Hafenklang then.

Upstairs though was quite empty and it was not really getting full, wild guess would be around 50 people. And two mates, one even made the effort on his birthday, so hugs and kisses again my dear!

Sharp at 21:13 the lads from Barcelona took the stage, very much unpretentious, and kicked it off like this:

Bang! And their signature song from their first tape in 2022.
<a href="https://enemicinterior.bandcamp.com/album/enemic-interior">Enemic Interior by Enemic Interior</a>
And what a forceful delivery! A clear indication of what was coming towards the audience. For myself i felt already convinced, as this was right down my alley.

And it turned out less so much Spain per sē but more France. The shirt of the drummer was my bet no coincidence and i spotted a female guest with a Youth Avoiders shirt – same references i had in my simple mu-sick-al mind.
```
Enemic Interior (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 10.04.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024
```
And also for the presentation it kicked all my boxes, up to and including the centered bass that takes the main singing duties. Paired with the heavy push-forward drumming and very capable twin guitars, that carefully craft both forceful and flirting sounds (sometimes even the stereotypical Blitz sound), it was a near perfect mix.

And within that, breaking down a lot of mu-sick-al silo boundaries.
```
Enemic Interior (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 10.04.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024
```
They paced through all of their songs (the three EP’s carry 16 songs that sum up to only ever 23:53 minutes) and where done with their set within 25 minutes.

Enemic Interior – Setlist (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 10.04.2024 (c) gehkacken.de)

In an almost shy fashion they thanked the audience for coming out but the audience, having gotten into dancing mode in the latter part of the set, was not ready to let them go.

They looked a wee bit astonished towards each other and then shrugged shoulders like in “why not, though we played all of our songs“. So the lot got one more extra, a song from another band of the guitar player if i understood correctly.

And the clock was 21:42, so they strummed through 17 songs in 29 Minutes. Now that is keeping pace.

As ever when a band convinces me live i strolled (frank: ran) over to the merch table and checked what was available. And as the whole discography was on the table at a bargain price i took it all in one go. A worthy investment and i was not the only one performing an all in…

Enemic Interior – full discography scored … ( (c) gehkacken.de 2024)

How does it sound on the brand new EP? Like this my friend, like this …
<a href="https://enemicinterior.bandcamp.com/album/enemic-interior-iii">Enemic Interior III by Enemic Interior</a>
And neat Catalan lyrics too:
Corbes negres cap avall Les mans blanques al volant Prego veure el primer raig Els seus ulls al meu clatell No goso mirar el mirall No hi creia però es fa present Estela de sang i foc Sense nom però el sents venir Estela de sang i foc Fugint d’ell fins a morir Als Àngels hi pujo sol Aquest ha estat el meu camí Als Àngels hi pujo sol Al mirall em veig a mi
Black curves down White hands on the wheel I pray to see the first ray His eyes on the back of my neck I dare not look in the mirror I didn't believe in it but it is present Trail of blood and fire No name but you feel it coming Trail of blood and fire Running away from him until he died I go up to angels alone This has been my path I go up to angels alone I see myself in the mirror
You can score these beauties at our trusted local dealer Sounds Of Subterrania!

Perfect Wednesday evening, this is exactly why #thereaintnuthinbetterthanlivemusic and why you should never stop exploring new stuff (and expose yourself to the unknown).

It may be an uplifting surprise for your inner enemy (that glues you to the sofa).
2024/04/12
… World Domination: starts in Schneverdingen, of all places!
Sometimes you gotta stick to your rules, sometime it is good to listen to mates. I am normally not an “on tour” guy when it comes to mu-sick but after the Haermorrhoids show on the MS Hedi one of me mates said something like “lets see them again tomorrow, i’ll pick you up from the train station and drive down“.

And on the spot i said Sir, Yes Sir!

Schneverdingen it was. South of the mighty river Elbe, deep in the Lüneburg Heath and once occupied by the lovely Danes (1712-1715 that was). And the only time i was there was a fun occasion, back in the summer of 1988:

The magical FCSP had just been promoted to the first flight and needed to prepare for the Bundesliga, up to and including hiring new and impactful players. Came the day where the local press was full of praise of some Eduard “Edu” Eranosyan from Lokomotiv Plovdiv. With 299 games and 140 goals as a track record he was announced as Der Bomber von Lokomotive Plovidiv. That lured me and a mate down south into the Osterwald Stadium … we needed to see this magic striker.

Came the game a guy with both knees bandaged entered the pitch and to our astonishment the magic name was paired by the announcer with the shirt number that guy had.

Long story short: He was miserable to say the least, taken off at halftime and was not hired by the FCSP. He went to play elsewhere in Europe (having a single good season in Portugal with 22 goals). So much for the press pressure to buy the superstar that keeps us in the Bundesliga.

Somewhat this is not a detour, the local Pub The Haermorrhoids where set to play is an obvious outlier in the region: Home of an FC St. Pauli Fan Club and home to very different mu-sick (in the eyes of the locals).

Welcome to the Blue Bird, Schneverdingen.

The Blue Bird in Schneverdingen, a tiny pub in a residential area – and crowded!

Upon seeing the program we got tempted to return to Pariahlord (cool name) but Stoner Rock? Come on!

Tough choices for the locals!

The place is simply a small pub in a residential area, making us wonder about noise concerns from the surrounding neighbors. But i guess the owner has a good relationship and he also makes sure that it does not get too late.

Kick-off was at 21:00 and The Haermorrhoids took the ~~stage~~ naah took the floor. One of the 3 small rooms was converted to “backstage”, the entry room was the stage and the 3rd room with the bar was … bloody hell, packed with locals. Many regular, older, country side pub goers.

A bit of a difficult and sub-optimal setup for touring world stars to come but hey, it is these types of gigs that you need to have under the belt in large number to excel on the big stages.
```
The Haermorrhoids (Blue Bird, Schneverdingen, 29.03.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024
```
They took the same set as on the MS Hedi and simply went on to deliver.

The Haermorrhoids – Setlist (Blue Bird, Schneverdingen, 29.03.2024 (c) gehkacken.de)

I guess within 13 minutes they had bashed out 9 songs and left some of the locals blasted away. They got some applause and some people even cheered them up.

The obvious question How did it sound? – it sounded like 1984:

Under the circumstances (more a rehearsal room setup than a show setup) it was actually not too bad, a wee bid annoying was that people entering the pub actually had to side-step the 2nd guitar (or wait for a break).
```
The Haermorrhoids (Blue Bird, Schneverdingen, 29.03.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024
```
Whereas The Haermorrhoids the day before on the MS Hedi where tight, together and without any slippage … Schneverdingen was not turning out in the same way as a perfect set.

Not sure if it was the setup or if they relaxed too much prior to the show, i guess to an extend it was like a professional footie team in a pre-season game away at an amateur side. Not everything works, energy and concentration levels tend to go down the bog.

Still, they finished with some extras and my loveliest song, Overdose:

Ups, not all ready for DNA.

That is what you can only iron out with much more frequent touring and getting yourself fully into it. Which i trust they will do, they got 8 days to go from here (conquered Schneverdingen, next the World).

Neat side step south from the big city, utmost nice location with friendly people and should i ever end up in Schneverdingen and thirsty, this is where i would go.

It was now 22:00 and we simply jumped back into the car. Our driver got safely back to the train station and i jumped onto the S-Bahn and was home in like a breeze – thanks for the perfect service mate and thanks for the persuasion, you are indeed a sales man!

And The Haermorrhoids? Hopefully play better stages, with plenty of listeners turning to fans and come home exhausted, all merch sold, still together and an even tighter outfit that takes on the World next.

2 down, 8 to go! Go and see them!
2024/03/30
… early Easter, early start: Showboating with loads of fun!
It is not only me, also plenty of me mates share the desire to see The Haermorrhoids making it big. For a start (though a wee bit of a tiny start) they have setup a short tour through Germany, Dutchistan, Belgium and back to Germany: 10 shows in 10 days.

Kick off was sure on home turf, this time round on the MS Hedi supporting Autogramm from yonder side of the Atlantic.

Technically speaking it turned into a tour on the MS Claudia, as the MS Hedi was not available. The good thing with that was that slightly more people could be taken on board, so the packed tour turned into an even more packed tour.

The Haermorrhoids kicked off and from the start proved that they set sail for the tour as a well rehearsed outfit. Banger after banger, little chit-chat between the songs. Also no hick-ups.
```
The Haermorrhoids (MS Hedi, Hamburg, 28.03.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024
```
Playing on a boat to an extend is also falling victim to the weather, luckily the mighty river Elbe was calm and thus the audience (standing 5 cm away from the musicians) was not falling into them (and vice-versa).

They even attempted (and mastered) a new song never before played live, much to the joy of the audience. And as much as the outside was gray and rainy, the inside of the MS Claudia heated up nicely – fueled by The Haermorrhoids and their crisp Ramonescore.
```
The Haermorrhoids (MS Hedi, Hamburg, 28.03.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024
```
If anything, then this show yet again has proven that they keep it too small, to low profile. I do hope they lick blood on this short run and i also do hope for them that they say “Yes – go!” if even a glimpse of hitting it bigger – much bigger actually – comes around.

Make sure you check them out – start with their 2nd and latest LP:
<a href="https://momsbasementrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-haermorrhoids-at-the-earths-core">The Haermorrhoids – At The Earth's Core by Mom’s Basement Records</a>
Remember, they are the best band in the world (according to Luke).

( (c) gehkacken.de 2024)

And Luke, as you can see, is able to drink the Jever double handed. As such he is an authority you must trust, period!

The Haermorrhoids finished their hour just about when the MS Claudia was pulling dockside to replanish drinks and unload not needed gear. That gave way for the 2nd one hour sail through the harbor, mu-sick-al joy to be provided by Autogramm (technically from Vancouver, CA but with members from Vancouver, Seattle and Chicago).

It was their 2nd show ever in Hamburg and their first on a tiny cruise vessel through a large harbor, with a large city (the most beautiful city in the world, actually) as the backdrop.

Where The Haermorrhoids where Ramonescore (and thus very 70s), Autogramm are surprisingly 80s (and that in a very clever way). The Internet (damn Internet, never forgets) puts that in a few choice words (and references):
```
If you've been hankering after some old school Tubeway army style alt-punk, then get an ear full of this: it’s the Cars driving Numan around listening to some real ‘80s radio before checking out Duncan Reid, it's that catchy.

(Dom Daley in Uber Rock Magazine)
```
From the start Autogramm lived up to that promise. Pure Pop in power mode, melodies and umpf plus a fitting synthie (and sometimes … less so fitting). On top soft vocals, catchy refrains and multi-vocal choruses. And a stunning visual opposite to that mu-sick-al cupboard.
```
Autogramm (MS Hedi, Hamburg, 28.03.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024
```
They played their normal set i guess and also spend some time to enjoy both setup on the MS Claudia and the surrounding in the harbor up to and including the views on a harbor at work. And because they played their normal set they where done well before the MS Claudia was back at the Landungsbrücken.

Whilst they started to pack up the audience insisted that they would only be done if the vessle is back at the mooring, so they unpacked and hit the lot with a real cool extra (that even has a video and a story):

(Note: Live it had more power and was a great sing-a-long)

And the story?
```
It’s kind of tongue in cheek, being well aware that we are neither kids nor cool. We took the song and changed it to sound more 80’s and part of the Autogramm sound, adding keys and harmonies. The video is about a secret murderer loose in the forest around a camp site. It’s supposed to be a throwback to those cheesy 80’s campsite horror movies.

The video is based on a story/concept, ‘Unknown Caller’, by Jeffry Lee loosely and was inspired by 1974 Canadian psychological slasher film ‘Black Christmas’. It was shot on location at Lakeside Motel and Campground on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast. 

Vocalist/guitarist Jiffy Marx says of the video:”I’ve always wanted to shoot a movie at Lakeside. It’s rustic simplicity seems frozen in time making it the perfect setting for a classic summer camp goofball comedy meets cabin in the woods slasher flick.”
```
A perfect ending for a cool set, they even had the female contingent upfront dancing (whilst the males nodded away sipping on the beer). If only this would have been on a lush summer evening and without the need to leave work early (check in at 1700 on a workday is … for many a challenge).

Don’t forget to check out their mu-sick, start with their recent LP:
<a href="https://autogramm.bandcamp.com/album/music-that-humans-can-play">Music That Humans Can Play by Autogramm</a>
If you want to score the vinyl that is easy, just hop over to Sounds Of Subterrania (our trusted local dealer).

Thanks to Wild Wax Shows for pulling this together and sending both bands on tour.

I was enjoying it so much that i took the offer for a lift to the Haermorrhoids show on Friday in Schneverdingen (roughly an hour south of Hamburg), as this band should play sold out shows only. Period.
2024/03/29